WOW! Ok- so I had all these things I needed to do today, and a bolt of lightning struck my car! (ok, so it didn't really hit my car so much as the tree NEXT to my car, but the electricity shorted something in my car) So now it won't start! Oh well... I guess it just gave me time to finally get this part down. I like how problems like these don't seem to faze Katsu in the slightest... she's just turning out to be a cheeky kid... I'm thinking of doing a story about her after she's grown up... or a teenager or something... she's fun to write and I wish I had more for her to do...
Anyway- Kenshin does not belong to me... even though I really wish he did! (in case you didn't know, this is what is called a disclaimer)
Hey! Justice Stryfe! You are awesome in your reviewing happiness! But what about your own story?? Why won't you update man? I love the big blond Swede! I needs me fan service!
"You know Kenshin you are remarkably skilled in sword techniques..." Tsukasa panted as they ran from the mob of angry bandits, "but how is it that we manage to pass every gang on our way? I didn't have problems like this on our treck to the mountain!" Katsu giggled as Kenshin hiked her higher on his back.
"Oro?"
"Oh COME ON!" he protested and slid to a stop as he spotted the gang blocking their path just ahead.
"Ororororo!" Kenshin bumped into Tsukasa and the three fell to the ground in a pile.
"This is so wrong!" Tsukasa groaned and covered his eyes with his hands. He shook his head wearily.
"Halt!" the bandit leader ahead of them bellowed. He was tall and clean shaven, his shoulder length blue/black hair was tied in a neat que, and his shoes gave off a highly polished glare in the mid afternoon sun that nearly blinded the young men.
"Halt!" the other bandits had caught up with them and their leader bellowed as he heaved breath.
"We've halted already! Baka!" Tsukasa yelled out loud, frustrated as he untangled himself from Kenshin and Katsu.
"What did you call me?" The other bandit leader was short statured, his long beard strung with coins and stopped just short of his belt.
"I called you both baka-na!" Tsukasa ranted, "We'd already halted when you BOTH!"
Kenshin jumped to cover Tsukasa's mouth as he tried to scoot Katsu into the fields on one side of the path.
"Good sirs... my friend here is merely frustrated..." Kenshin looked at each of them and bowed politely... "if you would excuse us!" he pushed Katsu into the fields and flung Tsukasa after her. He began to follow when the tall bandit grabbed his pony tail.
"Not so fast red-head."
"Kenshin!" Tsukasa made as if to return.
"No! Run, get Katsu away!" Kenshin yelled as the bandits surrounded. "I'll catch up."
"Right!"
"Ha! Cocky kid." The short one laughed, "how'd you like to get chopped up? Length wise, or width wise?"
"I'd like to know your names good sirs." Kenshin said calmly as he studied the troupes on both sides. The bandit groups were equal in number with about ten each.
"Why'd you like to know that pip-squeek?"
"Because I'd like to know which names to put on your tombstones." He replied matter of fact.
The sound of many blades slipping out of their sheaths seemed to taunt Kenshin as he settled into Hiten stance.
/this is bad... I promised Tsukasa.../ Kenshin licked his lips, and racked his brain for ideas.
/idiot apprentice/ a voice said in his head. Kenshin tried to ignore it, but the taunts of his master kept coming, /why did I ever burden myself with such a worthless boy?/ Kenshin broke stance and stood in the middle of drawn swords, tired of his own personal replay of faults. "Ok, that's it!" he shouted at himself, knocked blades to the side with his wrist guards, and walked up to the tall bandit. "I challenge you!"
"Oh-ho-ho! Kids scared now?" he taunted, but the tone fell flat to Kenshin's ears.
"It takes a big man to have ten guys kill a kid. Or is it you who are scared?" Kenshin replied with a smirk.
"Of you? Please!" he laughed.
"Hold it!" the fat man growled, "I claim this kids possesions!"
"I'll take you both on." Kenshin conceded, "on the condition that when I win, leaving you both on the ground moaning your fates, your men will stop chasing myself and my friends."
"HA! I am Tenhin, and I will claim your worthless head, then I will go after those others and spill their blood in the fields because I like the color!" The taller one scoffed.
"I am Uo, of the Okinawa Red Crow, I will claim your shinken, then dance on your corpse!" The shorter one agreed.
"Then our terms are set?" Kenshin stepped back and pulled a cold mask over his expression. The other bandits formed a ring around their leaders and the young boy who'd been stupid enough to challenge them. Kenshin ignored them, then settled into an icy awareness he only had when his Master truly attacked him, trying to teach him new techniques.
"Attack little one." Tenhin nodded.
"I wish to warn you, that I will not hold back."
"Stop stalling," Uo growled, his weapon appeared to be two tonfa, (note- tonfa are like police bats... those sticks with the little sticks sticking out to grip) highly polished and well cared for. As the coins strung in his beard glinted and swayed in the breeze he stepped around to Kenshin's right side.
"Yes, attack us, if you're really as good as you think you are." Tenhin pulled a broad sword from the sheath on his back and flipped it to rest comfortably on his arm, behind his back. He raised his right hand in front of him in preparation for a strike.
"Why don't you attack me? After all, two against one, why should I choose who to close with first?"
"You begin or I send my men after your friends." Uo growled.
No sooner had the words left his lips then Kenshin's shinken was at his neck.
"You will not break our deal good sir." He whispered as Uo's eyes grew wide. He hadn't seen the kid move, and if the gasps around him where any indication, neither had any of his men. Still, he brought a tonfa up, knocking aside Kenshin's blade and twirling to bring the other into contact with the youths head. But he met only air. Kenshin had ducked under the tonfa strike and bounced back up, slicing the wooden weapon at the base as he jumped back to his original position in the middle of the circle. Uo grunted, heaved the useless wood toward the trees, and drew a butterfly knife from his waist to replace it.
The gentle movement of air at his neck had Kenshin jumping away from the broadsword just as it cleaved the space his neck had been in.
"Nimble little thing, aren't you?" Tenhin settled back into stance, facing Kenshin with a wide grin on his face.
"I sure hope so... I almost didn't catch the change of air pressure in time."
"Don't fool me kid, only Masters can do that kind of thing."
"Don't underestimate one who is younger than you are." Kenshin muttered as his eyes narrowed, he settled into hiten stance, sheathing his shinken with an ominous click.
"You're not taking this seriously kid, only a fool doesn't prepare for his own death. Unsheathe your sword and fight me."
"Since you asked so politely..." Kenshin took a breath, bent his knees, and charged, dodged under the tall mans sweeping blade, then leaned forward to add the speed of the gods to his single swiping movement.
The crowd, together, blinked, as Kenshin ended his attack facing the bandits, his back to the bandit leader. Tenhin groaned once, then collapsed, blood spread under him as he dropped the broad sword into the dust ground with a dull thud.
"Stupid!" Uo shouted as he plunged his knife into Kenshin's unguarded back.
But once again, he, and the other bandits, blinked stupidly as the blade met nothing but the dirt under their feet. Kenshin had twisted away. His shinken swung out, and the bitter slice, the ringing of several coins and the shocked grunt of a grown man sounded as the beard Uo had been so proud of lay limp on the ground.
Uo touched his chin, the smooth square of skin that had no hair, not even an uneven stubble, changed his mind.
"Men, lets go." He got to his feet, and without a backward glance, left his beard, and broken tonfa, lying in the dust. As Uo's Red Crows filtered away, amazement still colored their mutterings, the other bandits unfroze and gathered around their fallen leader.
Kenshin got to his feet, carefully wiped the dust and minute blood from his blade with a soft cloth, and sheathed it with a soft click.
"He'll be fine if you treat him right away." Kenshin told them as he passed to the fields. He had to find Tsukasa and Katsu, and reassure them both that everything would be fine.
"Wait! Boy!" One of the bandits looked up at him from where he knelt, his Masters head resting in his lap.
"Yes?" Kenshin paused and looked back.
"Take this." He pulled a small metal medallion from around Tenhin's neck. "It will let other gangs know not to mess with you." He tossed it to Kenshin, who studied it warily.
"What does this mean?"
"Just that you're one dangerous person. Not to be messed with." He nodded, "Just tie it around your hilt. And thank you." He looked down at the man on his knees. Kenshin nodded, tied the small necklace to his hilt, and stepped into the fields to find his charges.
Anyway- Kenshin does not belong to me... even though I really wish he did! (in case you didn't know, this is what is called a disclaimer)
Hey! Justice Stryfe! You are awesome in your reviewing happiness! But what about your own story?? Why won't you update man? I love the big blond Swede! I needs me fan service!
"You know Kenshin you are remarkably skilled in sword techniques..." Tsukasa panted as they ran from the mob of angry bandits, "but how is it that we manage to pass every gang on our way? I didn't have problems like this on our treck to the mountain!" Katsu giggled as Kenshin hiked her higher on his back.
"Oro?"
"Oh COME ON!" he protested and slid to a stop as he spotted the gang blocking their path just ahead.
"Ororororo!" Kenshin bumped into Tsukasa and the three fell to the ground in a pile.
"This is so wrong!" Tsukasa groaned and covered his eyes with his hands. He shook his head wearily.
"Halt!" the bandit leader ahead of them bellowed. He was tall and clean shaven, his shoulder length blue/black hair was tied in a neat que, and his shoes gave off a highly polished glare in the mid afternoon sun that nearly blinded the young men.
"Halt!" the other bandits had caught up with them and their leader bellowed as he heaved breath.
"We've halted already! Baka!" Tsukasa yelled out loud, frustrated as he untangled himself from Kenshin and Katsu.
"What did you call me?" The other bandit leader was short statured, his long beard strung with coins and stopped just short of his belt.
"I called you both baka-na!" Tsukasa ranted, "We'd already halted when you BOTH!"
Kenshin jumped to cover Tsukasa's mouth as he tried to scoot Katsu into the fields on one side of the path.
"Good sirs... my friend here is merely frustrated..." Kenshin looked at each of them and bowed politely... "if you would excuse us!" he pushed Katsu into the fields and flung Tsukasa after her. He began to follow when the tall bandit grabbed his pony tail.
"Not so fast red-head."
"Kenshin!" Tsukasa made as if to return.
"No! Run, get Katsu away!" Kenshin yelled as the bandits surrounded. "I'll catch up."
"Right!"
"Ha! Cocky kid." The short one laughed, "how'd you like to get chopped up? Length wise, or width wise?"
"I'd like to know your names good sirs." Kenshin said calmly as he studied the troupes on both sides. The bandit groups were equal in number with about ten each.
"Why'd you like to know that pip-squeek?"
"Because I'd like to know which names to put on your tombstones." He replied matter of fact.
The sound of many blades slipping out of their sheaths seemed to taunt Kenshin as he settled into Hiten stance.
/this is bad... I promised Tsukasa.../ Kenshin licked his lips, and racked his brain for ideas.
/idiot apprentice/ a voice said in his head. Kenshin tried to ignore it, but the taunts of his master kept coming, /why did I ever burden myself with such a worthless boy?/ Kenshin broke stance and stood in the middle of drawn swords, tired of his own personal replay of faults. "Ok, that's it!" he shouted at himself, knocked blades to the side with his wrist guards, and walked up to the tall bandit. "I challenge you!"
"Oh-ho-ho! Kids scared now?" he taunted, but the tone fell flat to Kenshin's ears.
"It takes a big man to have ten guys kill a kid. Or is it you who are scared?" Kenshin replied with a smirk.
"Of you? Please!" he laughed.
"Hold it!" the fat man growled, "I claim this kids possesions!"
"I'll take you both on." Kenshin conceded, "on the condition that when I win, leaving you both on the ground moaning your fates, your men will stop chasing myself and my friends."
"HA! I am Tenhin, and I will claim your worthless head, then I will go after those others and spill their blood in the fields because I like the color!" The taller one scoffed.
"I am Uo, of the Okinawa Red Crow, I will claim your shinken, then dance on your corpse!" The shorter one agreed.
"Then our terms are set?" Kenshin stepped back and pulled a cold mask over his expression. The other bandits formed a ring around their leaders and the young boy who'd been stupid enough to challenge them. Kenshin ignored them, then settled into an icy awareness he only had when his Master truly attacked him, trying to teach him new techniques.
"Attack little one." Tenhin nodded.
"I wish to warn you, that I will not hold back."
"Stop stalling," Uo growled, his weapon appeared to be two tonfa, (note- tonfa are like police bats... those sticks with the little sticks sticking out to grip) highly polished and well cared for. As the coins strung in his beard glinted and swayed in the breeze he stepped around to Kenshin's right side.
"Yes, attack us, if you're really as good as you think you are." Tenhin pulled a broad sword from the sheath on his back and flipped it to rest comfortably on his arm, behind his back. He raised his right hand in front of him in preparation for a strike.
"Why don't you attack me? After all, two against one, why should I choose who to close with first?"
"You begin or I send my men after your friends." Uo growled.
No sooner had the words left his lips then Kenshin's shinken was at his neck.
"You will not break our deal good sir." He whispered as Uo's eyes grew wide. He hadn't seen the kid move, and if the gasps around him where any indication, neither had any of his men. Still, he brought a tonfa up, knocking aside Kenshin's blade and twirling to bring the other into contact with the youths head. But he met only air. Kenshin had ducked under the tonfa strike and bounced back up, slicing the wooden weapon at the base as he jumped back to his original position in the middle of the circle. Uo grunted, heaved the useless wood toward the trees, and drew a butterfly knife from his waist to replace it.
The gentle movement of air at his neck had Kenshin jumping away from the broadsword just as it cleaved the space his neck had been in.
"Nimble little thing, aren't you?" Tenhin settled back into stance, facing Kenshin with a wide grin on his face.
"I sure hope so... I almost didn't catch the change of air pressure in time."
"Don't fool me kid, only Masters can do that kind of thing."
"Don't underestimate one who is younger than you are." Kenshin muttered as his eyes narrowed, he settled into hiten stance, sheathing his shinken with an ominous click.
"You're not taking this seriously kid, only a fool doesn't prepare for his own death. Unsheathe your sword and fight me."
"Since you asked so politely..." Kenshin took a breath, bent his knees, and charged, dodged under the tall mans sweeping blade, then leaned forward to add the speed of the gods to his single swiping movement.
The crowd, together, blinked, as Kenshin ended his attack facing the bandits, his back to the bandit leader. Tenhin groaned once, then collapsed, blood spread under him as he dropped the broad sword into the dust ground with a dull thud.
"Stupid!" Uo shouted as he plunged his knife into Kenshin's unguarded back.
But once again, he, and the other bandits, blinked stupidly as the blade met nothing but the dirt under their feet. Kenshin had twisted away. His shinken swung out, and the bitter slice, the ringing of several coins and the shocked grunt of a grown man sounded as the beard Uo had been so proud of lay limp on the ground.
Uo touched his chin, the smooth square of skin that had no hair, not even an uneven stubble, changed his mind.
"Men, lets go." He got to his feet, and without a backward glance, left his beard, and broken tonfa, lying in the dust. As Uo's Red Crows filtered away, amazement still colored their mutterings, the other bandits unfroze and gathered around their fallen leader.
Kenshin got to his feet, carefully wiped the dust and minute blood from his blade with a soft cloth, and sheathed it with a soft click.
"He'll be fine if you treat him right away." Kenshin told them as he passed to the fields. He had to find Tsukasa and Katsu, and reassure them both that everything would be fine.
"Wait! Boy!" One of the bandits looked up at him from where he knelt, his Masters head resting in his lap.
"Yes?" Kenshin paused and looked back.
"Take this." He pulled a small metal medallion from around Tenhin's neck. "It will let other gangs know not to mess with you." He tossed it to Kenshin, who studied it warily.
"What does this mean?"
"Just that you're one dangerous person. Not to be messed with." He nodded, "Just tie it around your hilt. And thank you." He looked down at the man on his knees. Kenshin nodded, tied the small necklace to his hilt, and stepped into the fields to find his charges.